The earliest reference to this Mennonite Church conference is found in the November 1864 issue of the Herald of Truth, where it is called semiannual; however, only annual sessions are known to have been held.

By earliest reports the moderator of Lancaster Conference served here also, and the Lancaster discipline and actions were used without change until 1915. However, beginning in 1912 additional actions were passed by the Washington County, MD, and Franklin County, PA Conference. Separate rules and discipline were adopted in 1922, revised in 1930 and 1957. About 1909, 9 congregations and 732 members were reported. Its congregations were all located in the two counties included in its name. Mission outposts are also conducted in Allegany County, MD, and Fulton County, PA.

The Conference operated nine mission stations and through its District Mission Board the Maugansville Home for the Aged. Its Brotherly Aid Plan was very simply organized but functioned efficiently in case of loss by fire or storm.

The Confession of Dordrecht of 1632 and the Doctrinal Statement of the Mennonite General Conference (MC) were accepted as the basic doctrinal statements. In practice it was among the most conservative of the Mennonite conferences, with most of the men wearing the "plain" coat, and women the "cape" dress in the late 1950s. The woman's veiling was worn at all times. Life insurance, lodge membership, attendance at farm shows, and possession of television were not allowed. A strong home life without radio was encouraged.

This conference belonged to the group related to the Mennonite (MC) General Conference, but has never been organizationally connected with it, though it supported many of its projects, and proportionately contributed largely to the medical, teaching, missionary, and preaching personnel of the church. Since the adoption of the English language at the turn of the century and the use of more aggressive methods the conference has grown. In 1959 there were 14 congregations, 9 mission congregations, 4 resident bishops, 20 ministers, and 1,645 members.

In 1965 the conference suffered a division. The resulting conferences were known as the Franklin Mennonite Conference and the Washington-Franklin County Mennonite Conference.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 892, 894. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page:

MLA style: Lehman, J. Irvin. "Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 12 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W378.html>

APA style: Lehman, J. Irvin. (1959). "Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 12 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W378.html>